Most living things go unnoticed. Change that using a fun activity about the nutrient cycle. Pupils use hula hoops to mark areas of study and then make observations about the living things they see. They first make surface observations, then under leaf cover, and finally within the soil. They connect their findings to the decomposition status of the areas.

Concepts

decomposers, forest ecosystems, forests, habitats, the carbon cycle, the nutrient cycle

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Incorporate the activity during a unit on the life cycle
• Repeat the activity in several different locations and compare results with habitat characteristics

Classroom Considerations

• Needs access to outdoor green areas with tree cover
• Requires a hula hoop

Pros

• Adaptable to different grade levels
• Provides extension activities to further learning

Cons

• None